Apparatus and process for treating



March 1940- H c. w. vos'r Re. 21,406

I APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR TREATING "ATER'IALS Original Filed Nov. 1,1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. N (Zara/n:- 144 Vac/.-

A ORNEYS.

March 19, 1940; c. w. VOGT 21,405

APPARATUS ANDPROCESS FOR TREATING MATERIALS 7 0:1 am Filod Nov. 1, 192a2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v- ATTORNEYS.

Reissued Mar. 19, 1940 "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS ANDraocass For. TREATING MATERIALS ClarenceW. Vogt, Norwalk, Conn.,assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Girdler Corporation, Louisville,Ky., a corporation of Delaware 4:; Claims; (01. 62-114) This inventionrelates to a process and apparatus, which is particularly adaptable foruse in continuously freezing ice cream, sherbet and the like, and alsofor the processing of vegetable and animal oils, confections, salve andall other materials wherein it may be desirable to alter thetemperature, plasticity and/or structure thereof while being agitated orwhipped, and is a continuation in part of application Serial No.

| 242,667, filed December 27, 1927.

The process and apparatus involving the packing of the processedmaterial in containers asdisclosed in this application and in saidapplication Serial No. 242,667, are claimed in application Serial No.491,654, filed Oct. 28, 1930, which became Patent No. 1,972,253, issuedSeptember 4, 4934, and the product is claimed in application Serial No.414,567, filed Dec. 16, 1929, which became Patent No. 1,940,109, issuedDec. 19, 1933.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a machine throughwhich a material or mixture of materials may be continuously passedwhile being subjected to a temperature change,

whipped, agitated, or otherwise processed in an effective, efllcient andcontrollable manner. By

means of the invention the process may be'carried out at a high rate ofspeed so that the well known principle of quickly formed crystals be-'ing more minute than slowly formed crystals, may be practically utilizedin the processing of the many products of a crystalline or partiallycrystalline nature inwhich smoothness of texture is an importantcharacteristic. In respect to ice cream, this machine may beconveniently used by injecting the mix under pressure at one end -withthe proper quantity of fluid, such as air or carbon dioxide, to obtainthe desired overrun, and forcing it under pressure while being frozenand whipped, through the cooling or processing chamber.

Where it is desired to employ the machine with respect to themanufacture of substitutes for lard, salves, oleomargarine and the like,or any other materials, it has the advantage of processing suchmaterials at any desired pressure and maintain ng at the same time anydesired ratio between the quantities of the materials processed,.orexcluding any one of them entirely if desired.

50 In processing materials, it is highly advantageous and possible bymeans of this machine to'carry out the process under any desiredpressure and at a constant and uniform rate whereby the crystallizationor homogenization or chemical action takes place quickly in a uniformbroken.

state caused by the beating or whipping of the material as it ismaintained at or brought to the desired temperature, and thus obtaininga smoother quality of product, eliminating therefrom hard or gritty ornon-uniform particles heretofore created by the non-uniformity of thecrystallization or other action during the temperature changing process.

The machine is also applicable to the processing of eggs, wherein itisdesired to freeze the yolks and whites of the eggs after they are Bymeans of this machine, the eggs are frozen as they are stirred or mixedunder greater than atmospheric pressure so that no fluid will be beateninto the product causing deterioration. Almost any single material orcombination of materials may likewise-be processed with the same orsimilar advantages.

One feature of the invention as relates to processing of substances oringredients of a'crystalline nature or content, rests in the fact that agreater percentage of the crystals maybe permitted to form during theprocessing, and the product discharged in a stiffer state due topressure being available to'extrude the product thus further'processed.This is as distinguished from the usual discharge by gravity. This alsoenables containers, cups or cones to be filled from the bottom up so asto discharge the air from the.

top thereof and avoid air pockets being created.

Another feature of the invention resides in pressure feed of thematerial into the machine at a. uniform rate, whereby it may be forcedtherethrough under greater than atmospheric pressure;

Another feature of the invention is that as a beaten and aeratedproduct'leaves the machine, and gets beyond the action of therefrigerant and the agitator, the gaseous constituent expands to ortoward atmospheric pressure thereby increasing the total volume of theproduct, where this is desired.

A'i'urther feature of the invention resides in automatically maintainingany desired degree of plasticity, hardness, stiilness or density of thematerial as it is discharged from the machine.

A still further feature of the invention resides in the materialcontrol, whereby the materials may be positively introduced into themachine tion with the processing or temperature controlling chamber,wherein the processed or cooled mixture is whipped and agitated withoutfurther coolingactionsoastocausetheiluid,asweil as the lesser cooledparticles to be whipped into the more thoroughly cooled particles of thematerial, and, accordingly. cause a smoother and more desirable productto be discharged from the machine.

Another feature of the invention resides in the arrangement of thetemperature controlling chamber and the agitating mechanism containedtherein, whereby the latter is of a form which is suited to out or wipethe material from the wall and at the same time whip and mix thematerial which is being processed. In the usual processing machines thiscombined function is not present, and there is usually one set of partsused as scrapers or cutters, and provided any agitation is to beobtained, there is provided an additional set of parts of suitable formfor agitating. With this feature of the invention the machine produces aproduct which is more uniform and produces a product at a rate which isuniform due to the mechanism inside of the chamber being rigidly mountedand maintaining ,a deflnite maximum thickness of film. Where thesescrapers are hinged they do not maintain a uniform thickness of him asthey will slide over the film when it becomes hard, and when the fllrnis soft the paddles would scrape against the inside lining of thechamber, thus causing wear and an excess of friction One of the mostimportant features resides in the form of the temperature-controllingchamber whereby a relatively larger area of heat transfer surface ispresented in proportion to the volume of material imder process. This isaccomplished by the use of a relatively long and narrow chamber with acentral shaft substantially greater in diameter than in the usual formof ice cream freezer. Heretofore, in ice cream freezers the highestsurface volume ratio in pracentire volume of material passed through theapparatus to be intimately brought into contact with the heat transfersurface and to be thoroughly and uniformly effected thereby. 'Heattransfer is, therefore, rapid and since rapidly formed crystals arenaturally small, the material will have a creamy, smooth textureimpossible without this surface volume relation. By eliminating a largeamount of useless stirring of a large volume of material; it alsoreduces the amount of power necessary to operate the machine.

While the drawings and the description 'show the machine and process asapplied to the manufacture of ice cream, it is of course understood thatneither the process described hereinabove or hereinafter nor the machinedescribed and illustrated herein are limited to this application. butthat this application of the process and machine is merely one exampleof its many'applicaof the material or materials while being processed,or where it is desirable or necessary to maintain the materials beingprocessed in an intimately and uniformly mixed or homogeneous state.

'Ihe full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

Fig. l is a side elevation showing the machine.

. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section thereugh.Fig.3isaviewtakeriontlieline3-4 of Fig. 2 with partsremoved. Fig. 4 is asection taken on the lined-4 ofl'ig.2. Fig.5 isacentral vertical sectionthrough the valve controlmechanism. Hg. 6 is a plan view of the drivingmember and pinion. Fig. "I is a vertical section through-the controlvalve.

Inthedrawingsthereisshownaprocessing' machine mounted upon thesupporting base ll,

7 having a platform II for supporting a cup II or any other receptaclefor receiving the material or mix discharged from the machine. Mountedupon the base II and extending at 'an angle to the base thereof, thereis a tubular cooling or processing barrel it having a power drivecomprising the motor ll moimted in the housing I! and driving the shaft.ll through suitable reduction gears contained in the housing ll.

Mounted upon the support ll, there are supporting bars I. having asupporting ring I! mounted thereon in which there may be removablyplaced in inverted position the jar 2| for containing the mix to beprocessed. The mouth or discharge end of the jar 20 is adapted to extendinto a reservoir 2| so that the mix contained therein remains at aconstant level, thus providing a constant head for gravity feed throughthe ball valve 22 which is controlled by the rod 23 operated by thehandle 24. The reservoir 2| communicates with the valve 22 through thepassage 25 in the cylinder 26, in

which there is reciprocably mounted a piston 21 driven by means of theshaft I6 passing through the packing glands 28 and uponwhich there ismounted at the,ba se of the cylinder a cam 29. The lower end of thepiston 21 is provided with a roller 30 adapted to engage or ride uponthe periphery of the cam 29 for causing said piston to reciprocatewithin the cylinder 2. A spring 26a seated against a shoulder 21a on thepiston 21 serves to return the piston on its downward stroke.

The head of the cylinder isprovided with a vent 3| for admitting fluidsuch as air, carbon dioxide or any other material leading to a chamber32. The head of the piston is provided with a ball valve 33 forcontrolling the passage of fluid from the chamber 12 to the passage 34extending centrally and longitudinally of said piston. The passage 25for the mix communicates with the passage 35 in the wall of the pistonwhich is controlled by the ball valve 36 for admitting the mix to thecentral passage 34 extending therethrough. On the up stroke of thepiston the fluid is compressed inthe chamber 32 and is forced throughthe ball valve 33 into the passage 34 within the piston. Similarly, theshoulder 21a compresses the mix in the passage 25 and forces it throughball valve 36 into the passage 34. The mix and processing or temperaturechanging chamber 31. Said chamber is in the form of an elongated tubethrough which the shaft 38 extends, said shaft being keyed to thedriving shaft I8 so as to be- 31 being retained in spaced relationtherewith so that the brine surrounds said chamber passing from one endto the other.

After the mix and air, if desired, are pumped by the action of thepiston 21 into the bottom of the freezing chamber 31, they are forcedupwardly at an incline therein and continuously agitated and whipped bythe action of the whip ping blades 4| mounted on the rotating shaft 38.As the fluid and mix are whipped together and forced upwardly in saidprocessing chamber, the mix is gradually cooled or frozen by the lowtemperature of the chamber .31 and the wall thereof produced through themedium of the brine surrounding the same. Since a certain pressure isrequired to advance the frozen material through the chamber and sincethe action processing chamber or causing it to flow in the thin confinedlayer, screw mechanisms of the types heretofore proposed have not beenfound satis-'- factory if the material is undergoing a change from aliquid to or toward a plastic state, or if crystallization is takingplace. The screw becomes clogged so that the material travels aroundwith the screw rather than being forced axially by it.

In my invention, a more advantageous means.

is employed which exerts pressure on the supply at or before the pointof entry of the material to the chamber or confined space. The mix iscooled or frozen to the desired plasticity when it reaches the end ofthe chamber 31 and is discharged into the whipping chamber 42, where itis whipped without further cooling or freezing. action, since saidchamber is not surrounded or cooled by the brine. It is a well knownfact that there is. a greater rate of heat exchange between two metalsurfaces than between a metal and the atmosphere, wherefore the outsidesurface of the whipping chamber is or may be maintained at a relativelycooled temperature as the heat absorption of this surfacefrom the air isapproximately balanced by the heat flow therefrom to the processingbarrel to which it is attached. This action in the whipping chamberserves to more uni,- formly incorporate the particles of mix of greaterand lesser hardened condition so as to produce a smoother product.Thereupon, said product is forced through the nozzle 43 into anysuitable container l2, such as a can, cup or mold. The pressure feed ofthe freezer as distinguished from the usual gravity feed, enables acontainer to be filled from the bottom up by connecting a flexible tubeI43 to the nozzle 43, whereby the operator may project the end thereofnear the bottom of the container and withdraw the same as the containeris filled. Thusthe air is forced from the top of the container 'whicheliminates formation'of air pockets caused by filling the container fromthe top. This is particularly desirable I l in filling molds.

During the flow through the tube I43 the pressure progressivelydecreases and the air in the ice cream progressively expands to ortoward atmospheric pressure.

For the purpose of controlling the fluid supply through the vent 3|, arotatable valve in the form of a collar l3l is mounted about thecylinder 26, said collar is provided with an elongated slot I32 disposedat an angle so as to vary the area of the vent by the rotation of thevalve collar through the medium of the operating handle I33. Thus thefluid may be entirely shut off when not desired, owing to the nature ofthe material being processed.

It will be noted that the blades 4| are in the nature of heavy wireU-shaped staples extending through suitable apertures in the shaft 38and secured therein, the heads of the staples acting as paddles. Theblades are positioned so as to approach .the wall very closely but arefree from actual engagement therewith, thus preventing undue wear uponthe surface and, at the same time, preventing a film from accumulatingupon the wall, in addition to the whipping action given the mix whilepassing therethrough.

The brine is introduced through the pipe 44 to the annular recess 45 inthe end fitting 48 so as to surround the processing chamber and passabout the wall thereof to the annular chamber 41 and the lower fitting48 from whence it is discharged through the passage 49.

The brine is controlled by the condition of the mix as to its hardnessor plasticity while passing through the processing and whippingchambers.

By the control mechanism, which will hereinafter be described, theresistance of the material to the rotation of the shaft 38 and blades 4|acuates the mechanism to reduce the valve controlled passage of thebrine and decrease the hardness to which the mix -is processed'thereby.0n the other hand, a full flow of brine will pass around the processingchamber and process the mix to a relatively harder state upon thecondi-- tion of the mix being softer and exerting less resistance. Thusthe brine is controlled and thereby the hardness of the mix is directlyeffeced through the' condition thereof. The mechanism may be regulatedso as to cause the mix to be processed to the desired degree of hardnesswithin certain limits. Furthermore, the control mechanism acts to openand close the brine control valve upon thestarting or stopping of thedriving motor.

The mechanism just referred to comprises the pinion 50 adapted to mesh.with and drive the gear 5| which is keyed to the shaft l6, mounted inthe gear box H. The pinion 58 is mounted on a stub shaft 52 rotatablymountedin the socket 53 formed with a projection 54 having a reduced rod55 extending therefrom and slidably mounted in the housing I1. A-thrustbearing 58 is positioned between the pinion 50 and the socket 83.Between the enlarged flange portion of the socket 53 and the innersurface of the housing, there is a light compression spring 51. Mountedon the rod 55' and within the well 58 formed on the housing l1, there isa washer 59. Between said washer and the adjusting. nut 80, which screwson to the well 58, there is a relatively heavy compression spring 6!. I

- On the opposite sideof the pinion 50 there is formed an extension 82providedwith oppositely- Q When the motor is not extending V-shapedprojections ll forming a V-shaped pocket into which the driving member Iextends, as best illustrated in Fig. 6. The driving member I4 is keyedto the stub shaft "I of the motor having its bearing in the housing I1.and is separated from the side wall of the housing by the thrust bearing86.

Fulcrumed on the projection 61, extending outwardly from the-housing l1,there is a lever" (shown in Fig 1), the upper end of said lever isconnected with the end of the rod 58 and the lower end thereof isconnected with the rod a. The rod It operates the brine control valve(illustrated in Fig. 7 and shown in position in Fig. I). Said valve isprovided with an intake nipple H and a discharge nipple I! connectedwith the brine tube I3 leading to the brine inlet 44. The by-pass nipple14 connects with the by-pass brine tube 15 which connects with thedischarge brine tube 49. 7

Said valve comprises a cylinder II in which the piston I1 isreciprocated through the action of the rod Bl to' which it is connected.Said cylinder is provided with a chamber ll into which the brine'passesfrom the supply pipe I! through the intake nipple II, and is =providedwith the ports II and II adapted to register with the ports It and IIrespectively, whereby the brine entering the piston will pass throughthe ports Ill and .2 when they are brought into registry and through thepipe 13 to the processing chamber. The movement of the piston will varythe registry of theports I and 82 so as to vary the amount of brinepassing therethrough. when the ports II and 83 register, the brinepasses through the by-pass tube 15 and returns to its source.

' The operation of the control valve will now be described: inoperation, the brine will be shut 08 by reason of the piston I 1 (shownin Pig. 7), when the ports are out of registry. Thus no brine will flowthrough the machine. 1111s is brought about by the action of the com-'C. pression spring I exerting pressure upon the rod '5 which acts uponthe piston through the lever ll. When it is desired to process the mixand the current is turned on to rotate the motor for driving member 64,the driving mechanism rotating the shaft 38 will be driven through thepinion 50. The resistance of this mechanism will cause the drivingmember 64 to vary its position with respect to the-driven pinion wherebysaid pinion will be forced forwardly to a position substantially asillustratedby dotted lines in Fig. 6, by reason of the member 64 slidingup the inclined sides of the corresponding V-shaped recesses formed bythe projection 63. 'Ihe'spring i1 is sufliciently weak to permitcompression thereof by reason of the unloaded resistance to the motor,sufllciently to pull the piston 11 forward until the ports 80 and 82register. Brine is then discharged to the processing chambersubstantially simultaneously with the driving of the pumping piston 21for forcing the mix and air'therethrough. Upon the mix becoming cooledstifi, such as to create further resistance to the motor, the member Nand the projections of the pinion 5|! will further slide and separateagainst the tension of the heavier spring I. This will cause a furthermovement of the lever I and piston l'l so that the ports '80 and 82 willbe moved slightly ofi cen'ter with respect to each other and therebyreduce the amount ofbrine passing therethrough.

The reduction of the amount of brine willreducethestiffnesstowhichthemixiscooledand thereby reverse the operationso that the ports again will be in complete registry with each other andpermit a full amount of brine to pass into the machine. At such times asthe mix reaches its maximum stiffness and exerts a maximum pressure onthe spring 8| the movement of the piston will be sumcient to cause theports It and 82 to completely move out of registry with each other andcause the by-pass ports ll and it to register so that the brine willby-pass through the valve back to the source. It will be observed thatthe ports are so arranged as to permit a continuous flow of brinethrough the valve, the flow being divided between the ports It and 82and the ports II and ll when the valve is not shut oil or when one setof ports is in complete registry.

By reason of the above mechanism and its operation, the hardness orplasticity of the 'mix may be maintained substantially constant. Forvarying the plasticity or hardness, the operator may adjust the nut toincrease or decrease the tension of the spring ll. so that a greater orlesser degree of stifl'ness or hardness of 'the mix will compress'th'esame and'w'ill thereby actuate the control valve 1. as above described.

Attention is further called to the fact that the whipping chamber 42,which may be of any suitable capacity for producing the best results,wherein any air bubbles incorporated in the cooled mix will be reducedin size and increased in number, is or relatively larger diameter thanthe processing chamber so that the whipping blades therein will rotateat greater speed than the whipping bladems of lesser length in theproc-' essing chamber. us the speed of whipping the mix while in theprocessing chamber is less than in the whipping chamber. This is a veryimportant feature of the machine as the speed of whipping should begreaterafter the mix is cooled than while being cooled to obtain a finertexture and good volume. In this connection, it may further be notedthat the whipping blades 4| both in the processing chamber and in thewhippingv chamber are rigid rather than loosely mounted so as to flop,as is'customary. .Thus, there is a positive whipping action which breaksup any lumps, as distinguished from the loosely mounted blades whichwill pass over or by any lumpy or similar obstruction. Whereas theinvention has been described particularly as relating to cooledsubstances, it is equally applicable to substances which require heatingduring the processing instead of cooling.

What I claim is:

1. Process of making a homogeneous ice cream, sherbet, and the'like,with the proper quantity of as to give a desired uniform overrun whichincludes, continuously passing a liquid mix and gas into a closedchamber at a substantially uniform rate, maintaining said mix and gas insaid chamber under pressure greater than atmospheric pressure,adjustably controlling the quantity of gas admitted to said chamber tomaintain such a quantity ratiobetween said mix and said gas underpressure in said chamber which will give the desired uniform overrun inthe discharged product, refrigerating the outer wall of said chamber tosolidify a suflicient portion of said liquid to form a comparativelystiff mass, agitati'ng said mix and gas to eflectively cause said gas tobe .enveloped under pressure in the mix, rapidly removing solidifiedmaterial from said refrigerated wall and mixing it with theunsolidisneproduct at and homogeneous mixture, and discharging thematerial from said chamber at a substantially uniform rate whereby uponthe decrease in pressure the gas under pressure in the comparativelystiff partially frozen mass will expand to larger volume out of contactwith said agitating means, so'that the discharged product will have thedesired uniform overrun at atmospheric pressure.

fled'portions to obtain a uniform 2. A machine for making ice cream,sherbet, orv

the like, with the proper quantity of gas to give a desired overrun andwhich is homogeneous and free of segregated solids of appreciable sizeincluding, a processing chamber having a stationary heat transfer wall,means for chilling. said wall to a temperature below the crystallizingtemperature of a substantial portion of a liquid mix, means forcontinuously delivering said mix and a gas into said chamber undersuper-atmospheric pressure, continuously moving them under pressurethrough said chamber and. discharging the a substantially uniform rate,adjustable control means for regulating the relative ratios of liquidmix and gas admitted to said chamber to maintain the desired quantityratio between said mix and compressed gas in said chamber, and rotatableagitating mechanism for causing the gas under pressure to be envelopedin said mix and for removing solidified material from said wall andmixing it with lesser frozen portions to obtain a uniform andhomogeneous mixture, whereby the material may expand to larger volumeupon delivery from said chamber and have a desired uniform overrun upondischarge to atmospheric pressure.

3. A continuous ice cream freezer including a freezing chamber having astationary peripheral wall provided with a refrigerating jacket, a rotorwithin said chamber, pumping mechanism for positively forcing liquid mixinto said chamber at a predetermined rate, and compressing gas andforcing it into said chamber under pressure and moving them underpressure through said chamber, adiustable'means for controlling the gasenr tering the chamber whereby the ratio of gas and mix in said chambermay be controlled within narrow limits, means carried by said rotor forcutting frozen material from said peripheral wall, mixing it with lesserfrozen ingredients to form a plastic mass, and enveloping the compressedgas within said mass, and a conduit extending from said chamber and inwhich the pressure progres-, sively decreases as the gas expands andfrom which the comparatively stiff product is discharged to atmosphericpressure and with said substantially uniform overrun.

4. A continuous ice cream freezer including, a freezing chamber having astationary peripheral wall provided with a refrigerating jacket, a rotorwithin .said chamber and cooperating with said peripheral wall to definea thin annular chamber for the flow of the material to be vfrozen,pumping mechanism for continuously delivering gas under pressure intosaid chamber and for delivering liquid mix into said chamber at asubstantially uniform rate, means for delivering refrigerant to saidjacket at such a. rate in respect to the rate of delivery of said liquidmix as will cause said mix-to freeze to a comparatively stiff condition,during the continuous movement under pressure through the chamber, meansfor controlling the amount of gas admitted to give a desired quantityratio of mix and gas under pressure in said chamber, and meanson saidrotor including blades in said terial through said annular chamber forcutting solidified material from said peripheral wall, agitating thematerial, and enveloping the air under pressure into the partiallyfrozen mix, said last mentioned means offering comparatively smallresistance to the flow of material lengthwise of said chamber, and saidchamber having a restricted outlet whereby the air pressure and quantityratio are maintained in said chamber. during the freezing and airincorporation.

5. A continuous ice cream freezer including, a freezing chamber having astationary periph eral wall provided with a refrigerating jacket, arotor within said chamber and cooperating with said wall to define athin annular chamber through which the material to be frozen may flow,pumping mechanism for forcing liquid mix and gas into said chamber undersuper-atmospheric pressure to effect movement of them through saidchamber and discharge of them therefrom at a uniform rate, means forcontrolling the amount of gas forced into said chamber by said pumpingthe ratio of gas under pressure. and the mix in said chamber may be.controlled within narrow limits, means projecting from said rotor andinto said space for agitating the material, cutting it from saidperipheral wall, and enveloping the compressed gas within the partiallyfrozen mix, and a conduit extending from said chamber and in which thepressure progressively decreases and the gas expands, and from whichconduit the product is discharged to atmospheric pressure in acomparatively stiff condition and with a substantially uniform overrun.

6. The method of treating material to change its plasticity'whichincludes, continuously de-' livering the material to a processingchamber under a super-atmospheric pressure capable of directly effectingthe continuous flow of the ma chamber'at a uniform rate, refrigerating asurface -of said chamber and thereby effecting a rapid solidificationthereon, of at least a portion of said material, confining the materialin a comparatively thin layer during the pressure effected flow oversaid surface, rapidly removing from said wall all solidified materialcapable of interfering with said flow while rapidly and mechanicallyagitating the material while in said chamber to produce a homogeneousproduct free of segregated solids of appreciable size, said agitatingbeing in addition to the agitation incidental to the normal flow of thematerial through the chamber.

7. The method of refrigerating a material to effect a rapidcrystallization of at least a portion thereof which includes,continuously delivering the material to a processing chamber at auniform rate and under a super-atmospheric pressure capable of forcingthe same continuously through said chamber and discharging it therefromat a uniform rate, confining the material in a comparatively thin layeragainst a heat transfer surface of said chamber, subjecting said surfaceto the action of a refrigerating medium and thereby effecting a rapidcrystallization of at least a portion of the material on said surface,rapidly removing from said surface all crystallized material capable ofinterfering with said flow, andrapidly and mechanically agitating thematerial during such flow thereby mixing the removed crystallizedmaterial with the uncrystallized portion of material to produce ahomogeneous product free of segregated solids of appreciable size, therate of flow of the ma- 'terial lengthwise of said chamber beingsubstantially independent of the extent and rapidity of said mechanicalagitation.

8. A method of processing materials to produce a homogeneous productfree of segregated solids of appreciable size including, continuouslyputting all ingredients of the material under a pressure greater thanatmospheric and continuously introducing them into the processingchamber, controlling the admitted amount of a fluid ingredient of thematerial to maintain that relative ratio of ingredients which willresult in the. desired and constant ratio thereof in the flnal product,continuously passing the material through said chamber at asubstantially uniform-rate of flow, refrigerating a heat exchangesurface of said chamber and effecting a rapid solidification thereon ofat least a portion of said material, agitating said material while insaid chamber independently of the agitation incidental to the normalforcing of the material through said chamber, rapidly removing allsolidified material from said wall capable of interfering with said fiowand mixing the removed material while in said chamber with otherportions of the material being agitated, and continuously deliveringfrom said chamber and at a substanflally uniform rate the homogeneousproduct having all ingredients of the material in the relative ratio inwhich they were continuously introduced into the processing chamber.

9. A machine for processing a fiowable material to produce a homogeneousproduct free of segregated solids of appreciable size including, aprocessing chamber having a stationary cylindrical peripheral heattransfer wall, means for chilling said wall to a temperature below thecrystallizing temperature of at least a portion of the material, meansfor putting the material under a pressure greater than atmospheric andforcing the mass of material in-the clnmber 'therethrough with asubstantially uniform and continuous rate of fiow, and a rotatable bladesupport having a plurality of blades adjacent to said wall and extendinglengthwise of said chamber for removing from said cylindrical wall solidmaterial forming thereon and for mixing the same with the mass ofmaterial wherebythe degree of fluidity decreases during the continuousfiow through said chamber, said blades and their supports ofieringcomparatively low resistance to the fiow of the mass ofthe material in alengthwise direction through said chamber, and effecting relativelylittle forcing movement of the material lengthwise .of the chamber.

'10. A meahinetfge material includimacylindrlcal ,beatingmeansinsaidtubeincluding a central blade support forming therewith a substantiallyannular passage and offeringacomparativelylowresistancetothe fiowofthemassofmaterialinalengthwise directionthmughsaidtubeandwhippingbladesextendingfromsaidsupportsubstantiallytothetubewall.

means for effecting a continuous relative rotation of said beating meansand said tube, means B lmrate from said beating means for forcing saidma terlal through said passage and alcngsaidbeating means at a rapid andsubstantially uniform rate, and means for changing the temperature ofsaid material to produce a homogeneous product free of segregated solidsof appreciable size, during its flow to such an extent that it emergesin a plastic form.

' ii; A machine for materialincluding,acylindrimlmbe.beatingmeansmsaidtube including a central bladesupport forming therewith a substantially annular e and whipping bladesextending from said support substantially to the tube wall. means foreffecting a continuous relative rotation of said beating means and saidtube, means for introducing a material and a fluid to said passage,means separate from said beating means for forcing said material andfluid continuously through said passage and along said beating means ata rapid rate, and means for changing the temperature of said materialduring its fiow whereby the ingredients of said material are eifectivelyhomogenized and the degree of fluidity decreased during the continuousflow through and delivery from said passage.

12. A machine for processing material including, a stationarycylindrical wall and a rotor spaced apart to leave a comparatively thinan- .nular processing chamber, means for chilling said wall to a lowtemperature to effect refrigerating of the, material being processedanda change in the plasticity thereof, blades on said rotor extending intosaid annular space for agitating the material and offering but slightresistance to endwise flow through said chamber, and means independentof said blades for forcing the material lengthwise of said thin annularspace at a rapid rate.

13. A machine for processing material including a pair of cylindricalwalls juxtaposed to form a thin processing passage therebetween, meansfor continuously rotating one of said walls relatively to the other,means for applying refrigerant to the other of said walls for reducingthe temperature of the'material below the crystallislng point of atleast a portion of the material being processed, blades carried by therotatable walls extending into said space and movable through thematerial in said space for cutting material from the refrigerated walland mixing it with the other material in the space, and means forforcing thematerialthroughsaidpassage ata rapid rate in a direction atan angle to the direction of movement ofsaid blades.

14. An apparatus for refrigerating a material, at least a portion ofwhich is crystallisable, including a cylindrical chamber for thematerial, means for chilling a surface of the chamber to a temperaturebelow the crystallizlng temperature of a portion, the ratio of the chillnl surface ofthechambermeasuredin squareinches,tothe volume of thematerial in the chamber exposed to the action of said surface. expressedin cubic inches, being not substantially less than 1 to 1, means outsideof said chamber for forcing the material to flow through said chamberalong said surfaceandatarapidrate, andarotorinsaid chamber havingbladesextending lengthwise thereof for agitating the material independent ofsaid lengthwise fiow.

15. The method of refrigerating a material to produce a homogeneousproduct free of segregated solids of appreciable size, which includespositively forcing the material to move in a comparatively thin layerunder super-atmospheric pressure over a heat transfer-surface,subjecting said surface to the action of a refrigerating medium toefiectrapid solidification of at least a portion of said material. andrapidly and mechanically removing from all portions of said surfacewhich are directly refrigerated by said medium, solids forming thereon.

16. A machine for refrigerating a material to effect rapidcrystallisation of at least a portion thereof including. a stationarycylindrical heat transfer surface, means for refrigerating said surface,means for confining a comparatively thin layer of material adjacent tosaid surface, mechanism for positively forcing said material over saidsurface at a substantially uniform rate, and cutting means extendingsubstantially lengthwise of said surface for removing from all portionsof said surface which are directly refrigerated, solid material formingthereon, during the passage of said material over said surface.

17. The process of treating material consisting in positively forcing acontinuous stream thereof under pressure through a closed processingchamber at a uniform rate, lowering the temperature of the materialwhile passing therethrough to the extent necessary to effectsolidification of at least a portion of said material, whipping thematerial during all stages of its passage wherein the formation ofsegregated crystals might take place, in order to produce a smoothproduct, and

thereafter further whipping the treated material in another chamberwithout causing substantial variation in temperature.

18. The process of treating a material to produce a homogeneous productfree of'segregated solids of appreciable size consisting in positivelyforcing a continuous stream thereof and a fluid under pressure into andthrough a closed processing chamber, lowering the temperature of thematerial while passing therethrough, whipping the fluid into thematerial during its passage through said chamber, delivering the treatedmaterial from the other end of the processing chamber into anotherchamber, and further whipping the treated material in said secondchamber without substantial variation in temperature.

19. A machine for processing material, comprising a temperature-changingchamber, means for associating a temperature-controlling mediumtherewith, means for positively forcing a continuous stream of materialand fluid through said chamber, means for whipping said material andfluid together during their passage therethrough and an auxiliarywhipping chamber con-,

nected with said temperature-changing chamber and disassociated fromsaid temperature-controlling medium, and means for. agitating thematerial in said whipping chamber.

20. A machine for processing material to produce a homogeneous productfree of segregated solids of appreciable size including, a cylindricaltemperature-lowering chamber having a straight free passagetherethrough, means for continuously flowing material therethrough at auniform rate, means for associating a supply of temperature-loweringmedium with said chamber, a whipping chamber adapted to receive materialfrom said processing chamber, and means within said whipping chamber foragitating said material while the latter is substantially free of theeffect of said temperature-lowering medium.

21. A machine for processing material, comprising a temperature-changingchamber, a whip- "plng chamber, arranged outside of said first'mentioned chamber so as not to substantially change the temperature ofthe material .therein, whipping bla'des in said chambers, the blades insaid whipping chamber being adapted to whip the material therein at agreater speed than the blades in said temperature-changing chamber, andmeans for continuously passing the material through said chambers insuccession.

22. A machine for processing material, com prising atemperature-changing chamber, a whipping chamber of greater diameterthan the tem- 'to thoroughly mix together the perature-changing chamber,a driving shaft extending through said chambers, means for driving saidshaft, whipping blades mounted there- W on, the whipping blades in saidwhipping chamber extending a greater distance from said shaft than thosein the temperature changing chamber, whereby they'will travel at agreater speed,

and means for continuously passing the material through said chambers insuccession.

23. The process of treating a material consisting in positively forcinga continuous stream of the material and a fluid through a closedprocessing chamber under pressure, controlling the quantity of fluidforced therein so as to obtain the desired ratio of material and fluid,associating a cooling medium with said chamber, automaticallycontrolling the cooling medium by the- "degree of plasticity of thematerial in said'chamber so that the material may be discharged fromsaid chamber at a predetermined degree of plasticity and thereafterwhipping the material in a whipping chamber free from the cooling mediumgreater and lesser hardened particles thereof.

24. The process of treating a material consisting in positively forcinga, continuous stream thereof and a fluid through a closed processingchamber under pressure, associating a temperature-changing medium withsaid chamber for varying the temperature of the material'beingprocessed, whipping the fluid into the material during its passagethrough said chamber, and automatically controlling the effect of thetemperature-changing medium dependent upon the plasticity of thematerial.

25. A machine for processing material, comprising a closedtemperature-changing chamber,

means'for positively forcing a continuous stream of material and fluidtherethrough, means for controlling the relative quantity of fluid andmaterial, means for whipping the same in said chamber, means forassociating a temperature controlling medium with said chamber forlowering the temperature thereof, means controlled by the plasticity ofsaid material for causing said medium to maintain the same at asubstantially predetermined and constant plasticity, and a whippingchamber substantially disassociated from the efiect of said medium andinto. which the material is discharged'so as to permit the particlesthereof of different temperatures to be whipped together.

26. An apparatus for processing material including a chamber having acylindrical heat transferrlng wall, means for continuously passing thematerial along said wall, means whereby the material is subjected to theaction of a temperature changing medium through. said heat transferringwall to change the condition of said material, means for varying theeffective action of said medium to maintain the plasticity of theprocessed material substantially constant and without substantialseparation of the ingredients thereof,.and whipping blades for agitatingthe material and rapidly cutting the same from said temperature changingsurface at all portions of the latterin contact with said material.

27. A machine .for processing material, comprising a closedtemperature-changing chamber adapted to contain and vary the temperatureof a quantity of material, means for continuously passing a supply ofmaterial therethrough under super-atmospheric pressure, and means meansbeing actuated by the resistance to the processing of said material insaid chamber.

28. A machine for processing material, comprising a closedtemperature-changing chamber adapted to contain and vary the temperatureof a quantity of material, apparatus for continuously passing a quantityof material therethrough under super-atmospheric pressure, meansactuated by the resisting condition of said material for maintaining thesame at substantially a given degree oi plasticity, and means forvarying the action of said first-mentioned means and thereby varying thedegree oi plasticity oi the processed material.

29. A machine for processing material, including a container, a rotarydevice adapted to move the contents thereof, a member adapted to bemechanically displaced by the resistance oiiered to the movement oi saiddevice by the contents of said container, and mechanism for utilizingsaid displacement to continuously control the said rce;

30. The combination with a container and a rotary device adapted to movethe contents thereoi, oi a mechanism having a driving connection withsaid device, and means ior continuously controlling the resistanceoffered to the move-v ment oi the rotary device by the contents oi saidcontainer, said means being actuated by displacement oi said drivingconnection due to said 31. In combination with a container and a rotarydevice adapted to move the contents thereoi, a member mechanicallyconnected with said device so as to be displaced in accordance with theresistance oii'ered to the movement at the said device by the contents01' said container, and means actuated by said member for con tinuouslycontrolling said resistance.

32. A machine ior p material, comprising a temperature-changing chamberthrough which the material to be processed is adapted to passcontinuously under super-atmospheric pressure, means for associating atemperaturecontrolling medium therewith, and means for varying theeflect of said medium upon the material within the chamber governed bythe plasticity oi the said material.

33. A machine for material including a pr chamber, means for associatingfor continuously passing the material to be procened therethrough undersuper-atmospheric pressure, means for asociating a temperaturechangingmedium therewith, and means actuated by the plasticity of the materialin said chamber for continuously controlling the temperaturechangingmedium and thereby the plasticity of the. material.

35. A machine for processing material, comprising a temperature-changingchamber adapted to contain a quantity of materiahmeans for continuouslypassing thematerial to be processed therethrough under.super-atmospheric pressure, means for associating a temperaturecontrolling medium with said chamber, a shaft rotatable in said chamber,whipping blades on said shalt, a valve for controlling the delivery ofsaid medium, means for driving said shaft, and means for connecting saidmeans to said valve and operable by the torque exerted thereon, wherebythe change in torque due to the resistance to the rotation 01' saidshalt exerted thereon by said material may be used to actuate said valveand thereby aii'ect the temperature oi said chamber,

38. A machine for processing material including a closed processingchamber, means for continuously passing a supply of material to beprocessed therethrough under super-atmospheric pressure, an agitatormovable within said material, means for driving said agitator includinga member movable responsive to the resistance oflered by said materialto said agitation, and a controller operable responsive to the movementof said last mentioned member to control the physical condition of saidmaterial.

37. A machine for processing material including a closed processingchamber, means for continuously passing a supply oi material to betherethrough under super-atmospher 'ic pressure, means for supplying astate-changing medium for changing the physical condition of thematerial under process, an agitator movable within said material underprocess, means for driving said agitator including an element movableresponsive to the resistance to agitation oiiered by said material, anda controller operable responsive to the movement oi said last mentionedmember to control the supply of state-changing medium.

38. A machine for processing material including a closed processingchamber, means for continuously passing a supply of material to beprocessed therethrough under super-atmospheric pressure, means forsupplying a state-changing medium for changing the physical condition ofthe material under process, an agitator movable within said materialunder process, means for driving said agitator including an elementmovable responsive to the resistance to agitation ofiered by saidmaterial, and a controller operable responsive to the movement ofsaidlast-mentioned member to stop the supply of state-chang ing mediumwhen said resistance has increased 'above a predetermined value. V

39. A method of treating material, including medium responsive to theplasticity of the mate rial in process.

40. A method of treating aliquid including the continuous e of a streamor said liquid through ,a processing chamber,.delivering a rei cratingliquid in heat interchangin relations ptherewith to change theplasticity of the material, and automatically controlling the flow ofone oi. said liquids responsive ,to the plasticity I of the material inprocess.

. 41. a method 0! treating material; including the continuous passage 01a' stream at said material through a processing chamber, delivering astream of reirigeratingmedium into heat interchanging relationshiptherewith, and auto-- matically controlling the relative rates of flowor said streams responsive to the plasticity of the material in process.

42. A method of treating material including the continuous passage ot astream of said material under pressure through a closed processingchamber, the association of a medium therewith for changing the state ofsaid material, the mechanical agitation 01 said material, and theautomatic and continuous control of said medium responsive to the torquerequired for said agitation.

43. A method of treating material including the continuous passage of astream of said ma terial under pressure through a closed processingchamber, the association of a medium therewith for changing thetemperature of said material, the mechanical agitation of said material,and the automatic stopping and starting of supply of said mediumdependent upon the torque required for such agitation.

44. A method of treating material including the continuous passage of astream of said material under pressure through a closed processingchamber, the association of a medium therewith for changing thetemperature of said material, the mechanical agitation of said material,the automatic stoppage of supply of said'medium when the torque requiredto agitate said material is greater than a predetermin'ed'value and theautomatic reestablishment of said supply when said torque is less thansaid predetermined value.

45. The process of treating a material consisting in continuouslypassing a stream of said material under pressure through a closedtemperature-changing chamber, associating a temperature-changing mediumwith said chamber, and automatically and continuously controlling saidmedium in accordance with the plasticity of the treated material.

46. A method of treating material including the continuous passage of astream of said material under" pressure through a closed processingchamber, the association of a medium therewith for changing thetemperature of said material, the mechanical agitation of said materialand the automatic and continuous control of said medium responsive tothe torque required for said agitation.

4'7. The process of treating material consisting in continuously passingthe material through a closed processing chamber under pressure,associating atemperature-changing medium with said chamber for varyingthe temperature of the

